Articles by Dan Pugh

Dan Pugh
Contributor

Dan is CarsGuide’s marketing director by day, with a long-standing passion for anything on four wheels. Like many of us, though, he spends his weekends as taxi driver for his three kids and their friends.

So, if you’re wondering how cars tackle Woolies carparks, battle weekend traffic, ferry the kids to soccer, or act as transport for birthday parties, to local parks, and friends’ houses (all to the tune of a Top 40 hits soundtrack), Dan’s your guy.

Attributes such as boot space, seat folding mechanisms, ISOFIX mounts, USB points and cup holders are more important than the sheer pleasure of driving, but he doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to ride, handling and performance. Dan’s dream garage is vast, but he likes his chances of parking an XP Falcon wagon in his actual driveway, one day.

Kia Carnival Platinum diesel 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 13 Aug 2018
A growing family means a bigger car, but that doesn't have to mean the end of your fun behind the wheel. We put the Kia Carnival to the family test to prove it.
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Isuzu MU-X LS-U 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 01 Aug 2018
Isuzu's MU-X is billed as a go-anywhere, handle-anything, tough-as-nails SUV. But then, it hasn't met my family yet? So how will it stand up to weekend duties?
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Kia Optima GT 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 27 Jul 2018
Sedans might be sagging in popularity, but the right one can still make for a great family car. But does the Kia Optima GT qualify? There's only one way to find out.
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Volvo XC40 T5 R-Design Launch Edition 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 17 Jul 2018
Volvo's XC40 SUV is a stylish and capable small SUV, but will it stand up to a weekend of rigorous family testing?
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Jaguar E-Pace SE D240 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 29 Jun 2018
The Jaguar E-Pace might just be the best-looking SUV to have ever tackled the Weekend Test. So it passes the style test, but will it have the substance to match?
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Lexus LS500h F Sport 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 01 Jun 2018
In the world of luxury limousines, it's the well-entrenched and much-desired European trio of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi that hold court. It's a brave car maker that tries to muscle in.
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Subaru WRX Premium 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 16 May 2018
That the WRX is a wild-at-heart bang-for-bucks hero has never been in dispute. What's less certain, though, is whether it can also double as a toned-down family taxi.
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Volkswagen Polo 2018 review: Launch Edition
By Dan Pugh · 01 May 2018
The new VW Polo is bigger than it's ever been before, stretching the boundaries of a "city car" with its cabin space and luggage room. So is the smallest VW now big enough to work as a family car?
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Honda Odyssey VTi-L 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 16 Apr 2018
The rise of the SUV has obliterated people movers from our motoring landscape. But with our unloved family haulers now better than ever before, is it time we gave them another chance?
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Jeep Compass Trailhawk 2018 review
By Dan Pugh · 22 Mar 2018
Jeep's rugged Compass Trailhawk might be plenty capable in the bush, but can it shine quite so brightly over a weekend in the city? I put it to the family taxi test to find out.
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